Shriver Double puts Strikers Through to First NASL ChampionshipFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2011) – Three semifinal goals in the series from Brian Shriver enabled the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to defeat the Puerto Rico Islanders 5-2 on aggregate Saturday, Oct. 15, at Lockhart Stadium to move on to their first NASL Championship series.

The NSC Minnesota Stars won the first North American Soccer League title against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on a 3-1 aggregate following a 0-0 draw Saturday, October 29th, on a wet Lockhart Stadium.

Being the lowest ranked seed in these playoffs, the NSC Minnesota Stars went through a tough gauntlet of teams to get to this point. They had to go through the third-seeded FC Tampa Bay, the regular season champion Carolina RailHawks, and finally, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

The match tonight was tough for both teams. A rainstorm prior to the match caused the field to be very wet, making the ball tough to play with a simple touch or pass.

EDMONTON, AB. – FC Edmonton have come to terms with import defender/midfielder Kévin Hatchi on a one year contract. Hatchi last played in the NASL for the Montreal Impact in 2011 before being released from the team in June.

Citrus Sports Group, LLC, the ownership group of FC Tampa Bay, today announced that the team name will be changed from FC Tampa Bay to the Tampa Bay Rowdies starting immediately for the 2012 season and beyond.

“The Rowdies name has been synonymous with the highest level of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay area for decades,” said Citrus Sports Group President Andrew Nestor. “We are thrilled to bring it back for soccer fans in Tampa Bay, around the country and around the globe. The Rowdies were Tampa’s first ever pro sports franchise and claimed Tampa Bay’s first pro championship in 1975 winning the NASL Championship. We are appreciative of Classic Ink and their willingness to work with us on this agreement.”

The club unveiled today a new primary team logo, which prominently features the word Rowdies and is a direct link to the original Rowdies logo. The team’s new website will be located at RowdiesSoccer.com. The team will unveil new uniforms and secondary branding leading up to the 2012 season.

Last week, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced that it will hold its 2012 combine from February 10-12 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The annual event allows players the opportunity to display their talents to coaches, scouts and staff from all eight NASL clubs.

Beginning December 19, players are invited to apply for participation in the combine via an application form on the league website. The application period will close on January 10, 2012. The NASL expects to invite no more than 66 players from the applicant pool to participate. Players will be notified if they have been accepted on a rolling basis.

Email inquiries about the 2012 NASL Combine will be received at combine@nasl.com.

The only thing better than attending an Atlanta Silverbacks game is enjoying an ice-cold Coca-Cola® while you’re there. The Atlanta Silverbacks today announced a five-year agreement with The Coca-Cola Company, making it the Silverbacks’ official beverage provider.

“We’re extremely excited to be partnering with such an incredible Company,” said Silverbacks Director of Corporate Partnerships Scott Flood. “Coca-Cola has been a household name in Atlanta for more than 125 years. We look forward to working with the Company not only at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, but also in the local community in the coming years.”

With the new agreement, both of the organization’s facilities, Atlanta Silverbacks Park and Suwanee Indoor, will serve Coca-Cola products such as Coca-Cola, POWERADE® and DASANI®. The deal also includes consumer promotions aimed at maximizing marketing collaboration.

NASL Receives Full USSF Sanctioning MIAMI, Fla. (March 3, 2012) – The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) today formally admitted the North American Soccer League (NASL) as a member to continue operating as a Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL’s candidacy for full membership was approved this morning by a vote of the USSF National Council at the USSF Annual General Meeting in Miami.

“We’ve worked tirelessly over the past several years to create a new, sustainable long-term platform for Division 2 professional soccer in North America and the Caribbean. We thank the Federation for their leadership and cooperation in helping us elevate second division standards in order to make our vision a reality,” said Aaron Davidson, Chairman of the NASL Board of Governors.

“After a successful inaugural campaign in which we worked to stabilize Division 2, we are pleased to have the formal approval that fully empowers us to move ahead with our plans to grow our league. We look forward to continuing to play a critical role in the development and maturation of soccer in North America and the Caribbean,” said David Downs, NASL Commissioner.

The 2012 NASL Regular Season kicks off on April 7 with all eight active teams in action on that Saturday night.

The North American Soccer League announced on Thursday that the Cosmos have joined the league and will begin league play in the 2013 season. The NASL Board of Governors unanimously approved the Cosmos’ membership during its meetings this week.

It has been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos have played in a professional league, last performing in the original NASL in 1984.

It was not immediately known as to whether the club's NASL presence will open up possibilities of playing in Major League Soccer.

It is not immediately known whether performing in the NASL was a prelude play in Major League Soccer, which is gung-ho on adding a 20th franchise, an expansion team in New York City. The league is hopeful of building a new stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.

The North American Soccer League website NASL.com and each of the league’s club websites are being launched through a new and exciting digital platform in partnership with PERFORM, the world’s leading digital sports content group.

As soccer in the United States reaches new levels of interest and intensity, partnering with PERFORM will help propel the new look http://www.NASL.com website, the NASL and its clubs to a wider audience throughout the global soccer community.

PERFORM commercializes multimedia sports content across internet-enabled digital platforms, driving revenues through a mix of content distribution, advertising and sponsorship, the development and management of subscription platforms and technology and production. PERFORM owns one of the largest digital sports rights portfolios, including leading U.S. soccer site Goal.com, through contracts covering more than 200 sports and their associated leagues, tournaments and events.

While Indy Eleven continues to prepare for its inaugural season beginning this April, the North American Soccer League franchise is also focused on finding a long-term solution for a new multi-purpose stadium that will serve as a home for the club in addition to host concerts and various sporting and community events.

The proposed 20,000-seat outdoor venue in downtown Indianapolis fills a void in the state’s outdoor facility lineup. That void is currently limiting the state’s ability to provide cultural and athletic experiences for millions of Hoosiers who have a passion for soccer, music and other sporting and cultural events.

It's not another MLS expansion yet, but why wait so long – says Ersal Ozdemir, founder of Indy Eleven. His plan of building a new 18,500-capacity stadium is already underway, though the club hasn't even played its first game in the second league.

Indianapolis may have one of the world's most modern stadium in town, but the Lucas Oil Dome is far too large for the demand of many events, including domestic football games.

But the newly-established NASL team Indy Eleven have already proven there's a very big fanbase to build upon. Ahead of its first second league season, Eleven already filled 100% of their season ticket offer, selling 7,000 out of 11,000 seats available at academic Carroll Stadium.

Now the plan is to get a stadium the club could call home in the long term. One that would be prepared for a move upwards, to the MLS. As there are no promotions or relegations in the US, one can advance with financial and infrastructural status.

The MLS requires a stadium of close to 20,000 capacity. That's why real estate tycoon Ersal Ozdemir plans to have a new 18,500-capacity stadium up and running as soon as possible. Its cost is hoped to be at around $87 million.

Rumors of a Sting comeback have been circulating since early September, when the Twitter handle @Chicago_Sting was established with the bio: “Chicago’s true football club. MIA since 1988. Some think it’s maybe time to make a comeback. Chicago’s footballing dreams.”

In September, the Sun-Times contacted former Sting owner Lee Stern, who said he had no plans to revive the team. Stern’s Sting won NASL titles in 1981 and 1984.

Stern did say the NASL had contacted him for advice about running a team in Chicago.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber set to meet with to San Antonio mayor to discuss expansion prospects

It seems everyone wants a piece of the MLS expansion pie.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber will head to San Antonio on Tuesday to meet with mayor Julian Castro and Gordon Hartman, the owner of NASL's Scorpions, to discuss the possibility of an expansion bid, according to a report from the San Antonio Express-News. Garber was reportedly scheduled to meet with Castro in New York in November but was forced to cancel, and will now arrive in San Antonio ahead of Wednesday's friendly between Mexico and South Korea at the Alamodome.

Ottawa Fury FC today confirmed their NASL Fall Season schedule following the announcement of the 2014 Canadian Football League (CFL) schedule.

In an exciting opening weekend at TD Place, the Ottawa REDBLACKS will christen the new facility on Friday, July 18 against Toronto Argonauts before professional soccer takes to the pitch on Sunday, July 20 when Fury FC host the legendary New York Cosmos. In an effort to ensure sufficient time to properly transform the field from one sport to the other, four Fury FC home dates have been adjusted from the original announcement on January 16.

The brand new NASL franchise in Jacksonville was christened on Tuesday — Jacksonville Armada FC — and was branded with a club logo (above).

The Armada name, which came from a fan competition and survey that yielded more than 1,500 entrants, gives a nod to the region's rich Spanish heritage and strong military connection.

The fan vote was also used to select the club's colors — navy blue, royal blue, gold and white — which are another expression of Jacksonville culture and the city's close links to the area's US Navy and other military installations, which also explains the prominently featured anchor.

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